Locking apparatus for side shiftable excavator



A ril 1, 1969 E5. LONG 3,436,099

LOCKING APPARATUS FOR SIDE SHIFTABLE EXCAVATOR Filed Nov. 7, 1967 Sheetof 2 ELTON 5.LONG

SETTLE, BATCHELDER a OLWAN. 7:0. 2

E. B. LONG Aprifi 1, 1969 LOCKING APPARATUS FOR SIDE SHIFTABLE EXCAVATORSheet g of 2 Filed Nov. 7, 1967 lmre ntor. ELTON 5. Lowe 8vSETTLE,BATCHELDER aoLmwv 3,436,099 LOCKING APPARATUS FOR SIDE SHIFTABLEEXCAVATOR Elton B. Long, Burlington, Iowa, assignor to J. I. CaseCompany, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Nov. 7, 1967,Ser. No. 681,162 Int. Cl. B60d 7/00 U.S. Cl. 280456 1 Claim ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A mechanical locking mechanism for securing a mobileframe of a side shiftable evacuating device to an immobile frame of thedevice in any one of an infinite number of positions. The mechanismincludes pressure pads adapted to be forced into engagement with bearingsurfaces of rails forming part of the immobile frame. The pads arepressured through a mechanical force supplied by the operator andtransmitted to the pads by grease contained in suitable lines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to aside shiftable excavator, such as a backhoe, and more particularly to anovel system for mechanically looking a side shiftable or mobile framewhich carries an earth working implement, such as a backhoe assembly, inany one of an infinite number of positions along a fixed and immobileframe which is carried by the tractor chassis.

In the past, it has been common commercial practice in the excavatingart to mechanically lock the mobile frame of an excavator, such as abackhoe, to an immobile frame. Such mechanical locks, previously used,include frame connections such as: (1) a fixed number of aperturepositions in the immobile frame and through one of which a bolt assemblyis to extend, which bolt assembly may be tightened mechanically tosecure the mobile frame in a desired position (for example, see UnitedStates Patent 3,139,199) and (2) a pair of horizontal slots positionedat different elevations in the immobile frame and through which passesone or more bolt-s, which bolts are also attached to the mobile frameand may be mechanically tightened to lock the mobile frame in thedesired position (for example, see United States Patent No. 3,156,488).

These types of mechanical locks are objectionable since repositioning ofthe mobile frame is costly, time consuming, and annoying, requiring thatthe operator dismount the excavator, mechanically loosen the lock by useof a wrench or the like, remount the excavator, resituate the mobileframe in the desired new position with respect to the immobile frame byuse, for example, of the bucket and crowd cylinder, again dismount theexcavator, mechanically tighten the lock by use of the wrench or thelike, and again remount the tractor for further excavation. Furthermore,such mechanical locks tend to loosen during excavation, requiringexpenditure of further excessive time and attention. These mechanicallocks also often encounter mechanical interference which makes lockingimpossible or extremely difiicult due to component misalignment (such asmisalignment of matching apertures in the mobile and immobile frames)resulting from wear, abuse and the like. In addition, the versatility ofthe prior art excavators of the side shiftable type have been limitedsince almost all of such mechanical locking devices have only a fixednumber (such as 4, 6, 8 etc.) of positions in which the mobile frame maybe locked.

States Patent In an effort to overcome these objections, a hydraulicsystem has been proposed which will lock the mobile frame in any one ofan infinite number of positions along the immobile frame and may beactuated by the operator without dismounting from the excavator. Such asystem is disclosed in my Patent No. 3,304,100 assigned to the assigneeof the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention incorporates theadvantageous features of a hydraulic locking system of theabovementioned Patent No. 3,304,100 while providing a handoperatedmechanical control for locking the mobile frame on the fixed frame.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide improvedapparatus for mechanically locking the mobile frame of a side shiftableevacuator in any one of an infinite number of positions along theimmobile frame.

Another object is the provision in a side shiftable excavator ofapparatus for mechanically locking the mobile frame in a desiredposition which eliminates the need for the operator to leave his seatupon the excavator in order to so reposition the mobile frame and inwhich the operator has control over the locking forces between theframes.

These and other objects and features of this invention will become morefully apparent from the following description and appended claims inconjunction :with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a tractor mounted side shiftablebackhoe equipped with the locking system of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken along 2-2 of FIGURE 1illustrating the locking mechanism of this invention in the open orunlocked position; and

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG- URE 2 illustratingthe locking mechanism of this invention in its retracted, locked orclosed position.

GENERAL Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numerals areused to designate like parts throughout.

FIGURE 1 illustrates, in perspective, a tractor-mount backhoe generallydesignated 10, which comprises a tractor 12 having rubber tires 14, asteering wheel 16, a drivers seat 18 and a chassis 20. The tractor 12,of course, is only representative of one of several types of tractorswhich could be utilized in conjunction with the present invention.Naturally, track-mounted tractors are also encompassed by the presentinvention.

Generally, the embodiment depicted in the drawings structurally includesa fixed or immobile frame, generally designated 22, which is integrallyfastened to the tractor chassis 20 by forwardly projecting ears (notshown) or the like carried by the immobile frame 22 and secured toattachment arms (not shown) on the tractor chassis 20.

A side shift or mobile frame 50 is carried by the immobile frame 22. Aswing post 40 is pivotably supported by the mobile frame 50 and carries,in a conventional manner, a backhoe assembly which comprises a boomcylinder 152, an anchor bracket 154 and a boom 156, a dipper stick orcrowd cylinder 158, a triangularly shaped pivotable bracket 160, adipper stick 161, a bucket cylinder 162, links 164 and 166 and a bucket168. The backhoe assembly 150 per se constitutes part of the prior art.

THE IMMOBILE FRAME The immobile frame 22 along with the general mannerin which the mobile frame 50 is carried in a slide rail and slide railguide arrangement by the immobile frame 3 22 constitutes part of theinvention of co-pending application Ser. No. 449,966, filed on Apr. 22,1965 and now Patent No. 3,371,435 and assigned to the assignee of thepresent invention. The immobile frame 22 comprises two generallyhorizontally extending beams 24 and 26, of hollow rectangular crosssectional configuration, which are joined by welding or the like to therear side 28 of a pair of transversely spaced, vertically extendingcolumns 30 and 32, also preferably of hollow rectangular cross sectionalconfiguration. The welds so joining the beams 24 and 26 to the columns30 and 32 are identified by the numerals 34. The upper beam 24 isfurther supported by a pair of diagonally disposed braces 25, fabricatedpreferably from hollow rectangular cross sectional stock, which arewelded or otherwise secured to the faces 28 of the columns 30 and 32 at61 and to the beam 24 at 63.

The rear faces of each of the beams 24 and 26 carry vertically disposedplates 36 and 38, preferably of solid rectangular cross section. Theseplates 36 and 38 constitute slide rails and are preferably welded orotherwise integrally secured at the rear faces of the beams 24 and 26.The slide rails 36 and 38, as can be seen by inspection of the figures,are vertically aligned with each other at different elevations andextend generally horizontally, with the top slide rail 36 projectingabove the beam 24 and the bottom slide rail 38 projecting beneath thebeam 26.

Integrally attached to the lower beam 26, as by welding, are threemembers including an angularly-shaped member 120, a horizontallydisposed plate 122 and a vertically disposed plate 124. In combination,the angle 120 and the plates 122 and 124 constitute a bracket generallydesignated 126. The bracket 126 supports the stabilizer or outriggerlegs 128 (FIGURE 1), each of which have a ground engaging pedestal 130.The stabilizer legs 128 (one of which is illustrated in FIGURE 1) arepivotably mounted to the downwardly extending portion of theangularly-shaped member 120 and to the vertically disposed plate 124 bymeans of a pin and aperture assembly (not shown).

THE MOBILE FRAME The swing post 40 of the overall excavator 10 ismounted on the generally vertically extending side shiftable or mobileframe 50, as previously stated. The mobile frame 50 spans the distancebetween the slide rails 36 and 38. This mobile frame is rectangular inoutline and considerably smaller than the immobile frame 22. The mobileframe 50 carries with it an excavator operators seat 52 and a controlpanel 54 having a cover 56. The mobile frame 50 is slidable, undercertain conditions, along the previously described slide rails 36 and 38f the immobile frame 22.

The mobile frame 50 structurally comprises a pair of verticallyextending columns 58 and 60 integrally connected to a top plate 62(which carries the control panel 54 and the cover 56) and to a bottomsupport plate 64. The top support plate 62 and the bottom support plate64 each have an integral ear 66 and 68, respectively, upon which theswing post 40 is pivotally mounted by connecting pins (hidden fromview). The swing post 40 is hydraulically rotatable responsive toactuation of a pair of swing cylinders, only one of which is illustratedin the figures, being indentified by the numeral 70.

The mobile frame 50 is slidably carried by the immobile frame 22 alongthe two slide rails 36 and 38 and is provided with two top slide railguides, generally designated 72, and two bottom slide rail guides,generally designated 74. The upper slide rail 36 and the two guides 72,in combination, constitute primary load-carrying members in that thedownward vertical load imposed upon the immobile frame 22 by the backhoeassembly 150 and by the mobile frame 50 is transmitted through the plate62 solely to the top surface 76 of the slide rail 36. No downwardvertical load is transmitted to the lower slide rail 38.

Each upper slide rail guide 72 comprises a back-up stop block 78integrally secured to the top plate 62 as by welding, a bottom stopblock 80 integrally secured to the columns 58 and 60 of the mobile frame50 at 84 (which contacts the bottom 86 of the upper slide rail 36 totransmit any upward thrust generated during excavation and the like),and a pressure bearing pad or ram 88 providing a pressure bearingsurface 90. The pressure bearing pad or ram 88 is integrally connectedto a piston 92 which is reciprocably carried within a casing 93 of acylinder assembly 94. Each of the two cylinder assemblies 94 isillustrated as being a one way cylinder and the pads 88 are actuated bypressured grease, as will be described hereinafter.

Each lower slide rail guide 74 comprises a back-up stop member 96providing a pressure bearing surface 98 (the back-up stop 96 beingintegrally attached at the bottom to the columns 58 and 60) and apressure bearing pad or ram 100 providing a pressure bearing surface 102(the pressure bearing pad or ram 100 being integrally attached to apiston 104 reciprocally disposed within a casing 105 of a cylinderassembly 106). The pressure bearing pads are pressured by grease as willbe presently described.

In my previous Patent No. 3,304,100, the pressure hearing pads 88 and100 are actuated-by pressured hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic systemof the tractor. According to the present invention, the pads and areforced into engagement by utilizing a pressure transmitting means whichis in the form of a semi-solid mass, such as grease, for transmittingthe forces applied by a manually operated control member or pump. Thisarrangement provides the operator with an accurate control of the amountof force applied to the pads during the locking of the mobile frame onthe fixed frame.

The manually controlled pressuring means includes a conventional greasegun 200. The grease gun may be of the type disclosed in Davis Patent No.2,425,867. The grease gun 200 comprises a reservoir 202 having a pump204 secured to one end thereof which is actuated through a manualcontrolled lever 206. The reservoir is fixedly secured to the panel 56by U-shaped brackets 208 and has a piston rod 210 with a T-handle 212reciprocating therein and preferably spring biased in a conventionalmanner to maintain the grease within the reservoir at a predeterminedpressure.

The pressure outlet of the pump 204 has a conduit 216 connected theretowith a manually operated valve 218 therein. A bypass circuit connectsthe conduit 216 with the reservoir 202 at a point below the valve 218.This bypass circuit includes a hand valve 220 in a conduit 222 which isconnected to the reservoir 202. The bypass conduit also is incommunication with a valve 223 so as to perform the dual function ofproviding a bypass between the reservoir and the conduit 216 as well asa circuit for filling the grease gun, as will be presently described.

Parallel circuits 224 are connected to the conduit 216 and since theyare identical in construction, only one will be described in detail.Thus, circuit 224 includes a conduit 230 connected by a T connector 232to the cylinder casing 93 and to a conduit 234. The conduit 234 is alsoconnected through a fitting 236 to the second cylinder casing 105. Theconnector 232 and fitting 236 may incorporate valves so that thecommunication between pump 204 and casings 93 and may be selectivelycontrolled.

In operation, the grease gun 200' is first filled with a semi-solidfluid mass, such as grease, by closing valve 220 and opening valve 223.In this manner, grease can be forced into the reservoir 202 and thespring biased piston rod 210 will be forced upwardly as viewed inFIGURE 1. When a sufficient amount of grease has been provided, thevalve 223 is closed.

To lock movable frame on the fixed frame, the valve 218 is opened thusplacing the pump 204 in open communication with the respective cylinderassemblies 94 and 107. The pump is thereafter actuated through themanual control lever or handle 206 to pressure the grease within theparallel circuits 224 thus forcing the pistons 92 and 104 into theextended position thereby engaging the respective pads 90 and 100 withthe railings 36 and 38 to securely lock the mobile frame on thestationary frame. As can readily be appreciated, the manually operatedgrease gun provides a means for accurately controlling the amount ofpressure applied to the respective pistons 92 and 104 and is at alltimes within the exclusive control of the operator. Furthermore, thegrease gun 200 is positioned so as to be readily accessible to theoperator while he remains at the operating station of side shiftablebackhoe.

Once a sufiicient amount of pressure is applied to the grease within thecircuits 224, the valve 218 is closed to thus trap the pressured greasewithin the respective circuits 224 and maintain the pads 90 and 100 inthe locked position. Whenever it is desired to shift the backhoe withrespect to the vehicle, it is only necessary to open the bypass valve220 located in the bypass circuit or conduit 222 to thereby relieve thepressure within the circuits 224 by allowing the grease to return to thereservoir 202.

Of course, the respective pistons of the cylinder assemblies will beretracted suificiently by the normal forces between the mobile frame andthe fixed frame to allow shifting of the mobile frame on the respectiverails. When the mobile frame has been repositioned to the desiredposition with respect to the rails, valve 220 is again closed and valve218 opened to allow pressuring the respective pistons of the cylinderassemblies. This is accomplished by actuating the hand lever 206 until asuflicient pressure has been applied to the grease within the circuits224. Again the valve 218 may be closed to trap the grease within theparallel circuits 224 as well as the casings of the cylinder assemblies.

From the above description, it can be readily appreciated that theinvention provides an accurately controlled means for locking a mobileframe on a fixed frame of a side shiftable backhoe. Furthermore, theamount of pressure applied to any of the pistons is Within the exclusivecontrol of the operator while he is stationed in the normal operatingposition of the excavator. Of course, the amount of pressure which maybe applied can readily be varied by varying the type of pump 204.

While one exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described indetail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that thedisclosed embodiment may be modified. Therefore, the foregoingdescription is to be considered exemplary rather than limiting, and thetrue scope of the invention is that defined in the following claim.

I claim:

1. In combination with a side shiftable excavator adapted to be attachedto a vehicle and having a fixed frame including upper and lower sliderails each defining first and second substantially vertical bearingsurfaces, fixed means carried by said mobile frame for engaging saidfirst bearing surfaces, bearing pads carried by pistons slidable incylinders supported on said mobile frame for engaging said secondbearing surfaces, a control system for moving said pistons comprising areservoir supported on said mobile frame, first conduit means connectingsaid reservoir to said cylinders, a manual pump in said first conduitmeans, second conduit means bypassing said manual pump and connectingsaid reservoir to said cylinder a semi-solid flowable mass in saidreservoir and said conduit means, and valve means in said first andsecond conduit means and selectively actuatable to place said reservoirand said pump in fluid communication with said cylinders to extend andretract said pistons in said cylinders for locking said mobile frame tosaid fixed frame in any one of an infinite number of positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 770,101 9/1904 Nilson 188-1521,743,005 1/1930 'Resler -52 X 2,138,263 11/1938 Van Cleave et al. 60-52X 3,304,100 2/1967 Long 280-456 2,449,335 9/1948 Sowa 188-100 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,169,734 7/1958 France.

972,208 10/ 1964 Great Britain.

975,029 11/1964 Great Britain.

984,383 2/ 1965 Great Britain.

355,915 9/ 1961 Switzerland.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

